Speed-changing mechanism.



PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904,

0. J. REED. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 29, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NU MODELv INVENTOR.

A WITNESSES PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. C. J. REED. I SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

4 SHEEN-$113M 2.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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WITNESSES vo No. 776,940. PATBNTBD DEC. 6, 1904. G. J. REED.

SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1903.

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INVEJVTOR.

PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

C. J. REED.

SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1908.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

W/TA/TSSES UNITED STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. REED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO REED -MORRILL ELECTRIC CO., A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLV ANIA.

SPEED-CHANGING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,940, dated December 6, 1904.

Serial No. 167,450. (No model.)

To a, whom, may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. REED, a citizen of the United States, residingat Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and use 'ful Improvement in Speed-Changing Mechanisms, of which the Following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanisms for transmitting power at a variable speed, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with expansible pulleys of the type shown in United States Patents Nos. 78,7 63 and 4241,6557, in which the rim of a pulley is expanded or contracted in diameter by the rotation of a spirally-grooved disk relative to the rim of the pulley.

The particular object of my invention is to provide means for the operation of one or more such pulleys, whereby I am enabled to either increase or decrease the diameter of the pulley by a definite and predetermined. amount and to simultaneously increase the diameter 01'' one pulley and decrease the diameter of. a second pulley while the pulleys are revolving continuously at high speed. I accomplish this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a top view of one form of my apparatus with parts of the casing removed; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the same, taken on line A A of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 1-, respectively, top and vertical sectional views of a modified form of the apparatus, Fig. 3 being partly sectional; Fig. 5, a sectional view of one modification; Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 7 a transverse sectional view, of one pulley, taken on line B B of Fig. 6; Figs. 8, 8, 9, and 10, details of parts.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Fig. 6, 1 and 2 represent disks of any suitable material, such as iron or brass, attached to the tube or sleeve 3 by means of the keys 1 and 5. Each of these disks has a spiral thread or groove 6 and 7 cut on one face, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. The thread or groove 6 on disk 1 is cut in an anti-clockwise or left-handed direction, passing from the circumference toward the center, as shown in Fig. 8. The thread 7 on disk 2 is cut in a clockwise or right-handed direction, passing from the circumference to the center. The disks 1 and 2 are keyed on the tube 3 with their grooved faces facing each other. The tube 3 is mounted so as to turn easily on the shaft 8. Mounted on the tube 3 so as to turn easily upon it between the disks 1 and 2 is the tube 9, having two flanges 10 and 11, which are bolted, respectively, to the disks 12 and 13. The disks 12 and 13 lit closely against the grooved surfaces of 1 and 2, respectively, and are provided each with the same number of radial slots 14. (Shown clearly in Fig. 7 Each slot in 12 is arranged in the same plane with the corresponding slot in 13, so that a bar inserted in the corresponding slots of 12 and 13 can be moved toward and from the shaft and remain in the same radial plane. A flanged head or disk 15 is mounted upon 8 and attached thereto by the key 16. The outer rim of 12 is screwed or bolted to the flange 15, so that the disks 12 and 13 and the tube 9 are rigidly attached through the disk 15 and the key 16 to the shaft 8.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 6, 17 is a beveled gear mounted upon and attached to the tube 3, or it may be attached to the hub of the disk 2. 18 is a beveled gear attached to 8 by the key 19. 20 represents an idle double-faced beveled gear mounted loosely upon 8. 21 is a beveled pinion mounted on a pin 22, attached to the collar 23, which is loosely mounted upon and is capable 01 retating about 8. 24: is a collar which holds 21 in place. 25 is a beveled gear mounted on a pin 26,which forms a spoke in the worm-gear 27, mounted loosely upon and capable of rotating about the shaft 8. 28 is a worm engaging the worm-gear 27 and rigidly mounted on the worm-shaft 29. The worm 28 and the worm-shaft 29 are mounted in the stationary casing 30. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) The pin 22, collar 21, and hub of the gear 21 oocupy a tubular recess in the casing 30, as shown in Fig. 1, which holds the axis of the gear 21 in a fiXQCl position and allows 21 to rotate on the pin 22. The gears 17, 21, 20, 25, and 18 are all of the same pitch and are all in mesh or engagement.

It will be readily seen by those skilled in the art that when the shaft 8 is revolving and the pins 22 and 26 are stationary there can be no relative movement of the grooved disks 1 and 2 with reference to the slotted disks 12 and 13. hen the worm 28 is rotated, so as to revolve the worm-gear 27, the gear 25 and its axis will rotate around the shaft 8, carrying with it the gear 20, which in turn will increase or diminish the speed of rotation of 21, depending on the direction of motion of the Worm-gear 27. Anyincrease in the speed of 21 will cause the disks 1 and 2 and the tube 3 to move around the shaft 8 in one direction, and a reduction of the speed of 21 will cause 1, 2, and 3 to move around the shaft in the opposite direction. Since the disks 12 and 13 and the tube 9 are attached to the shaft 8 through the disk 15 and the key 16, any motion of the worm 28 or worm-gear 27 will cause a relative motion of the disks 1 and 2 with reference to the disks 12 and 13, whether the shaft 8 is revolving or stationary and Whichever may be the direction of its rotation. It is furthermore evident that moving the Worm-gear 27 through a definite angle will cause relative motion of the disks through a definite angle and that these angles will be proportional. It will be seen that a single revolution of the worm-gear 27 will produce exactly two revolutions of the disks 1 and 2 around the shaft 8. Consequently the angle through which the spirally-grooved disks move will be double the angle through which the worm-gear 27 moves. The position of the worm-gear 27 with reference to a fixed line is therefore an index of the angular position of the grooved with reference to the radially-slotted disks.

In each of the radial slats of 12 is inserted one end of a bar or slot 31, formed of a short piece of T-rail, as shown in perspective in Fig. 9. The other end of 31 is inserted in the corresponding slot in 13. One end of 31 extends through 12 into the spiral groove of 1, and the other end extends through 13 into the spiral groove of 2, each slat being parallel to the shaft. These slats taken together constitute the convex or cylindrical surface of the pulley, and the pulley expands and contracts as these slats move, respectively, from or toward the center. The projecting ends of the slats are so located as to bring the external surface of the slats equally distant from the shaft.

When the disks 1 and 2 rotate either faster or slower than the shaft 8, (and consequently faster or slower than the disks 12 and 13,) the slats will all move. If centrifugal motion of these intersections is produced by revolving the grooved disks in one direction around the shaft, centripetal motion will be produced by revolving them in the other direction, and vice versa. Consequently with the grooves in a given direction the pulley will expand when the disks 1 and 2 move around the shaft in one direction and contract when they move in the opposite direction. Reversing either the direction of the grooves or the motion of the disks around the shaft reverses this relation.

Figs. 1 and2 show, respectively, a top view and a sectional view of a speed-changing mechanism comprising two expansible pulleys, as described above, located on the shafts 8 and 8*. The Worm-gears 28 and 28 are both attached to the worm-shaft 29, upon which is mounted a hand-wheel 32. 33 rep resents a belt passing over the drum or convex portion of the pulleys and is for the purpose of transmitting the power from one pulley to the other. Rotating the hand-wheel 32 causes the worms 28 and 28 and the wormgears 27 and 27 to move in the same direction. This would cause the convex surfaces of both pulleys to expand simultaneously or contract simultaneously if the spiral grooves in both pulleys are similarly arranged. In order to cause expansion in one pulley and simultaneous contraction in the other, 1 arrange the spiral disks as shown in Figs. 8 and 8, so that the spiral groove 6 in one pulley is anti-clockwise and the spiral groove 6 in the other pulley is clockwise,proceeding from the circumference toward the center. With this arrangement rotation of the worm-shaft 29 will cause one pulley to expand and the other tocontract. The same thing may evidently be accomplished by arranging the spiral grooves in both pulleys alike and placing the worm of one pulley above and the worm of the other pulley below the plane of the two shafts, so as to give motion in opposite directions to the two worm-gears. This is such an obvious modification that I have not considered it necessary to show it in the drawings.

Fig. 3 represents a top view of a modified form of the apparatus, partly sectional.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view of Fig. 3, taken on line C G. In this modified form 3 1 and 3 1 represent spur gears attached to tubular extensions of the disks 2 and 2 and taking the place of the beveled gears 17 and 17 of Fig. 1. 35 and 35 rep resent spur-gears keyed to the shafts 8 and 8 and taking the place of the beveled gears 18 and 18 of Fig. 1. 36 is a combination spur and beveled gear having a beveled face 37. 36 is a similar combination spur and beveled gear having a beveled face 37*. 38 and 38 are combination spur and beveled gears having beveled faces, respectively, 39 and 39. The gears 36, 36, 38, and 38 are mounted loosely on pins 10 and 40, which in turn are mounted, respectively, in casings 41 and M The casings 41 and 4.1 are united ratio of the spur-gears 38 and 35, so that the 7 speed of 36 is the same as the speed of 38,

although they are not of the same size, 38 and 35 being smaller than 36 and 34, respectively. 38 and 35 are connected through the intermediate pinion 45, as shown in Fig. 10'

and indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. 36 and 38 therefore revolve with the same velocity, but in opposite directions. 47 and 47 are beveled gears mounted on spokes of the Worm-gears 48 and 48, respectively, which are constructed and mounted in a manner similar to the worm-gears 27 and 27 of Fig. 1 to turn loosely upon the pins 40 and 40, the beveled gear 47 meshing with 37 and 39 and the beveled gear 47 meshing with 37 and 39. I am not limited to any particular number of teeth in the spur-gears employed, but for convenience may use the following numbers: The spungears 36 and 36* contain forty teeth, 34 and 34 contain twenty teeth, 38 and 38 thirty-six teeth, 35 and 35 eighteen teeth, and ten teetl The slotted or elongated openings 43, 44, 43, and 44 in the casings 41 and 41 allow the gears 36 and 34, 36 and 34 to be simul taneously thrown out of gear by moving the casings to the right and into gear by moving them to the left. The same operations simultaneously throw the gears 45 and 35, 45 and 35, respectively, out of and into gear. The worm-gears 48 and 48 engage the worms 49 and 49, attached to the worm-shaft 50, which may be rotated by the wheel or sprocket 51. It is evident to those skilled in the art that when the apparatus is thrown in gear, whether the shafts 8 and 8 are revolvingor not, there can be no relative motion of the grooved disks 1 and 2, I and 2 with reference to the slotted disks 12 and 13, 12 and 13, respectively, as long as the worm-gears 48 and 48 do not revolve. Rotating the worm-shaft 50 causes rotation of the worms 49 and 49 and the wormgears 48 and 48, causing the axis of the gears 47 and 47 to rotate around the pins 40 and 40?. This causes a rotation of the gears 34 and 34 around the shafts 8 and 8, respectively, and consequently relative motion of the grooved and slotted disks, as previously described. With the gears of dimensions stated above it is evident that one rotation of the worm-wheel. will produce four rotations of the grooved disks around the shafts 8 and 8 whether the shafts are at rest or in motion. By arranging the grooved disks oppositely in the two pulleys, as shown in Figs. 8 and 8, rotation of the worm-gears 48 and 48 in the same direction will cause expansion of one pulley and simultaneous contraction of the other.

It will be seen that in both forms of the mechanism described herein the pulley consists of two elements, one of which is fixed in one position on the shaft and the other movable around the shaft through the intervention of a train of gears between the shaft and the movable element. The fixed element comprises the disk 15, key 16, radially-slotted. disks 12 and 13, the tube 9, and gear 18 or The movable element comprises the spirallygrooved disks 1 and 2 and thetube 3. The remaining parts are not n'operly portions of the pulley and constitute an independent mechanism for controlling the position of the movable element upon the shaft. This mechanism is operated by the worm-shaft 29, and its operation in the control of the movable element of the pulley is entirely independent of the motion of either the shaft 8 or the shaft 8.

In the mechanism herein described I change the effective diameter of one or more pulleys by relatively rotating the slotted and spirallygrooved disks, constituting, respectively, the fixed and movable elements of the pulley, by a mechanism which operates without reference to the motion of the pulley itself. This enables me to simultaneously control with precision and certainty the diameters of any number of pulleys situated on different shafts and to set the fixed and movable elements in any desired relation while the pulley is rotating.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the apparatus in which sprocket-wheels and a sprocketchain are substituted for the worm-gears and worms.

In Fig. 1 T have shown a mechanism for independently increasing or diminising the diameter of one pulley without altering the diameter of the other. in this mechanism the beveled gear21 instead of being mounted on a pin is mounted upon a spoke of the sprocket or worm gear 22, which in turn is mounted loosely upon and capable of rotating around the shaft 8. When the worm-shaft 29 and the worm-gears 27 and 27 are at rest, there can be no changes in the diameter of the pulleys while 22 remains at rest. If under these conditions 22 is rotated about the shaft 8, carrying with it the gear 21, each revolution of 22 will cause two revolutions of the grooved disks 1 and 2 around 8 and a corresponding amount of expansion or contraction in the diameter of the pulley, increasing or decreasing the tension of the belt The sprocketwheel 22 may be conveniently operated by the sprocket-chain 22. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 5.)

I am evidently not limited to the specific forms shown in the drawings Il may, for example, instead of attaching the beveled gear 17 or the spur-gear 34 directly to the disk 2 introduce between these gears and the disk 1 additional gears for the purpose of changing the ratio in the operation of setting the disks.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a speed-changing mechanism, an expansible pulley comprising an element fixed on the shaft and an element movable on the shaft, a pair of bevel-gears one of which is operatively connected to said fixed element and the other of which is operatively connected to said movable element, a bevel-pinion engaging both gears, and means for shifting the position of said pinion around the axes of said gears and thereby relatively rotating said gears, substantially as set forth.

2. In a speed-changing mechanism, an expansible pulley comprising an element fixed on the shaft and an element movable on the shaft, a pair of bevel-gears one of which is rigidly connected to said fixed element, a reversing gear operatively connecting the other bevel-gear to said movable element, a bevel-pinion engaging both gears, and means for shifting the position of said pinion and thereby relatively rotating said gears, substantially as set forth.

3. A speed-changing mechanism, comprising two pulleys on separate shafts, each pul ley having an element fixed on the shaft and an element movable on the shaft, a pair of bevel-gears one of which is operatively connected to said fixed element and the other of which is operatively connected to said movable element, a bevel-pinion engaging both gears, and means for simultaneously shifting the position of said pinions around the axes of said gears.

4:. A speed-changing mechanism, comprising two pulleys on separate shafts, each pulley comprising an element fixed on the shaft and an element movable on the shaft, a pair of bevel-gears one of which is rigidly connected to said fixed element, a reversinggear operatively connecting the other bevel-gear to said movable element, and a bevel-pinionengaging both gears, and means for simultaneously shifting the position of said pinions.

5. A speed-changing mechanism, comprising two expansible pulleys on separate shafts, each pulley having an element fixed upon its shaft, and an element movable around its shaft, means for simultaneously controlling the relative position of the fixed elements and the movable elements of the two pulleys and means for the independent control of the rela tive position of the fixed element and the movable element of one pulley, substantially as set forth.

6. A speed-changing mechanism, comprising two expansible pulleys on separate shafts,

each pulley containing a pair of radially-slotted disks between a pair of spirally-grooved disks, means for simultaneously controlling in both pulleys the relative position of the spirallygrooved disks with reference to the radiallyslotted disks, and means for independently controlling in one pulley the relative position of its spirally-grooved disks with reference to its radially-slotted disks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have sign ed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

(JHARLES J. REED.

Witnesses:

N. M. SPELLMAN, M. J. REED. 

